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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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POEM . 

BY R. N. F. ^^ - ^^> ~^ 

ILLUSTRATED 

BY F. W. WILLETT. 






1891. 



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COPYRIGHT, IS'JI, 



F. B. W 1 1. LETT. 







Geneva, nursling of the 

fragrant hills, 
That keep thee like a babe 

at mother's breast, 
And feed thee from their 

pure and secret rills, 
And hold thee at thy play, 

or hush to rest; 




With gladness beaming-, tilled with Nature's joys, 
With dimpled smiles or rippling laughter graced, 

In silence sleeping-, or elate with noise 
Of chattering waves by wind-swept shores embraced; 




Beneath the light of stars, 
or moon, or sun, 
hi mimic storm, or hilled in 
peace profound. 



Each happy change 
from grace to grace doth run. 
And endless beauty 

girdles thee around. 




One gracious heaven, silver, 

gold and blue. 

Bends o'er thy face with 

benediction sweet; 

And multiplied in every 

form and hue. 

Like God in souls, is mirrored 

back complete. 








Not thine the s^randeur of the 

boisterous seas — 
The place of heroes loving 

storm and strife; 
But there is home-like peace 

beneath thy trees, 
Where sacred mothers and 

sweet babes tlnd life. 




And on thy grassy banks made cool with shade 
Old age may rest, and happy lovers stray, 

And all the woodland pets of naught afraid, 
Rejoice in chorus at thy perfect dav. 




Oh, loveliest in a hind of 

lovely lakes; 

Clothed in thy wondrous robe 

ot chanijeiul light, 



Thy beauty is a spell; yetl 

darkness makes 

Not less the mystic beauty 

of thy nig-ht. 




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.sas 

LIBRARY OF CONGBESS 




